Animate Dead: Let's remove the HP decay.

[Meatbread]

So the paladin thread got me thinking, wouldn't it be nice if a necromancer could create a skeletal steed and have it last more than 90 seconds WITHOUT exploiting that one particular silly bug? If you don't have a necro and don't know what I mean, trust me, the bug is so simple that it's almost impossible to avoid doing on a routine basis.

Then I got to thinking, jeez, I've seen a skeletal dragon (the mightiest undead creature created by the Animate Dead spell) get its butt kicked by a wandering healer. That doesn't really bother me in itself, since their value lies in the fact that they don't take control slots. But if that's the case, is there really any need for HP decay on these things at all?

I wouldn't even propose a change like this, but it seems like a trivial task, not something that would tax development. Disable the little bit of code responsible for the decay next time a build goes to Test Center, and if it makes something explode for some random reason just put it back.

 

[Mirt]

So the paladin thread got me thinking, wouldn't it be nice if a necromancer could create a skeletal steed and have it last more than 90 seconds WITHOUT exploiting that one particular silly bug? If you don't have a necro and don't know what I mean, trust me, the bug is so simple that it's almost impossible to avoid doing on a routine basis.

Then I got to thinking, jeez, I've seen a skeletal dragon (the mightiest undead creature created by the Animate Dead spell) get its butt kicked by a wandering healer. That doesn't really bother me in itself, since their value lies in the fact that they don't take control slots. But if that's the case, is there really any need for HP decay on these things at all?

I wouldn't even propose a change like this, but it seems like a trivial task, not something that would tax development. Disable the little bit of code responsible for the decay next time a build goes to Test Center, and if it makes something explode for some random reason just put it back.

I think this is a great idea. The skeletal steed would be great to see running around and your right the summoned undead are pretty weak it does sound like something that would be easy to test for and if it didn't work well then just go back and put the idea on the back burner for a bit.

 

[LordDrago]

I could go for this.

I woould also like the animated dead have better AI. Mine seem to be the stupidest creatures. Sometimes they follow mw around...sometimes they don't...sometimes they attack...sometimes they don't.

 

[Cogniac]

If they decide not to make this change then they should make the HP of all undead creatures decay, for consistency.

The fact that this means that Neira spawns complete themselves is just something we'll have to live with. Right? Right?...

 

[Meatbread]

I could go for this.

I woould also like the animated dead have better AI. Mine seem to be the stupidest creatures. Sometimes they follow mw around...sometimes they don't...sometimes they attack...sometimes they don't.

They do have some quirky AI, don't they? Sometimes they just plain run off the screen with this bizarre sense of urgency, like they really have somewhere in particular to be. But you know, all the summons with more sense also take control slots, so whatever. I wouldn't mind it if animated dead took slots, could be healed, commanded directly, and even "stabled" maybe at that crypt in Umbra. You know, just make it into a ghetto version of taming. It balances out since none of the pets are especially good and none of them can be bonded under my imaginary system.

But that's a lot of work. I'd settle for some intern throwing a comment marker next to whatever line of code makes animated dead lose HP. Then if it causes problems on TC for some strange UO spaghetti code reason, delete the marker.

 

[Ashlynn_L]

I always thought leaving that bug in pretty much was their "fix" to make the skeletal steed and hell steed worthwhile.

 

[Meatbread]

I kinda wish I could target a spirit speak to heal an undead instead of myself. Back when you could heal them with gift of renewal, the jack of all trades human racial was just enough skill to let you sort of keep one up.

 

[Hell's Ironworks]

Like the idea. It would be nice if they could also fix the death adder. Seems to attack only half the time and does little damage.

 

[Meatbread]

I made a skeletal mage last night and watched a brown bear eat it. Good lord this spell is pathetic.